Yankees Should Look To 1986 To Forget 2004

We all know what happened in 2004. It wasn't that long ago.

The New York Yankees were up three games to none on their rival Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS when Boston stormed back in a historic way, winning the next four straight.

They would go on to sweep the Cardinals, ending any rumors of a curse as they won their first World Series since 1918.

However, I think 1986 hurt Boston more than 2004 hurt New York.

Yes, the Yankees lost to a bitter rival, but it wasn't for the World Series and didn't prevent the Yanks from potentially tasting a title for the first time in eighty plus years.

October 25, 1986 is a day that will never be forgotten by the baseball world or Red Sox fans, regardless of what they do in the future.

With all due respect, the Red Sox recovered spectacularly, having won two titles in the last five seasons while assembling a great ballclub. I am not taking anything away from them.

2004 still haunts me to this day, so I know 1986 has to haunt a Red Sox fan.

After watching a special on MLB Network, I was reminded of how painful that night was for Boston, just as the 2004 collapse is to New York.

Here is that 1986 collapse revisited.

They took on the powerful New York Mets in the Series. New York had been the best team that season, winning 108 games, the most by any team in more then a decade.

The Mets started off on the wrong foot, losing the first two games of the series at home as a trip to Fenway Park loomed.

"I remember when we were heading into Boston, it was if we could find a way to get back to New York, we would have a chance," Lenny Dykstra said.

They did just that, winning two of the three games at Fenway, forcing a Game Six at Shea Stadium and setting the stage for history.

The back-and-forth game went to extra innings gridlocked at 3-3 when a Dave Henderson solo blast looked as though it might end the curse in the tenth.

Shea Stadium was dead silent, as if they thought it was over. 

The Red Sox added one more run in the inning to make it 5-3, as Calvin Schiraldi took the mound for the Boston Red Sox in the bottom half.

After he retired the first two batters, it seemed like it was over.

A few Mets players headed to the dugout, and Kevin Mitchell had already booked his reservation to get out of New York.

Even third base umpire Harry Wendelstedt thought it was over, asking Wade Boggs to flip his hat to him, because he collects the hats of all winning third basemen of the championship team. 

Boggs told him, "Wait, its not over yet."

Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans recalled looking up to the scoreboard to see the banner, "Congratulations Boston, the 1986 World Series Champions."

With only two strikes remaining, reporters all around the world started their game recaps and articles for the night, with Boston as the champions.

TV anchor Bob Costas was waiting for the Red Sox as the stage was set and the champagne was ready.

Mets catcher Gary Carter and singled to left to start the rally.

He later said that, "I knew in my heart I wasn't going to be the last out."

Kevin Mitchell then came up to bat, fresh off of his reservation phone call, and hit a curveball into center field for a single.

The tying runs were now aboard for Ray Knight, who quickly fell behind 0-2. Knight would recover to hit a fastball to center field that scored Carter and brought Mitchell to third.

Reliever Bob Stanley got called into the game to pitch to Mookie Wilson, as the Red Sox started to feel a little uneasy about the situation.

Wilson fouled off a couple of pitches to get behind early. Then, a wild pitch hit the dirt and Mitchell scored to tie the game up at five. Knight moved up to second on the play.

With the pressure now off of him, Wilson hit a routine roller to first... and then it happened.

The ball squirted by Bill Buckner, and Knight scored the winning run.

Game Seven returned to Shea, and the 1986 World Series belonged to the Miracle Mets.

Things happen in sports and in life that we can't explain. You just have to move on and hope for better the next time around.

Heading into 2009, the Yankees look to end their nine-year championship drought.